2012 ODP Boys Thanksgiving Interregional | Day 1

Casa Grande, Ariz. (Nov. 24, 2012) — The annual US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Boys Thanksgiving Interregional is now underway at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz. The three-day event kicked off today and features boys from the 1998 and 1999 age groups.

Continuing its tradition of elite competition and player development, youth from the nation's top player identification program, US Youth Soccer ODP, will train and compete in front of national staff and collegiate coaches to maximize their exposure for selection to the next level of play. The 2012 US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Thanksgiving Interregional includes players in the 2016-2018 graduation classes.

US Youth Soccer ODP, the nation's original player identification program, has continued its tradition of elite competition and player development for more than 30 years, and is the only development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer and the Men’s and Women’s National Teams. To learn more, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.

Highlights from today's matches:

1999 Boys: Region I v. Region III

This game got off to a quick start, as both teams found the back of the net in the early minutes. Region III’s Landen Haig headed home the opening goal in the 2nd minute, but Diego Guerrero responded for Region I with a powerful strike from 20 yards out in the 4th minute to even the score at 1-1. Edison Giron gave Region I a lead it wouldn’t relinquish when he slotted home a goal in the 21st minute, helping Region I to the 2-1 win.

1999 Boys: Region II v. Region IV

The squad from Region IV grabbed the lead just before halftime and added another goal early in the second half to win, 2-0, over Region II. Manuel Sarabia scored from 25 yards away in the 40th minute. Sarabia netted a second goal with a penalty kick in the 50th minute after Preston Judd was fouled in the box, and the Region IV defense did the rest to earn a shutout victory.

1998 Boys: Region I v. Region III

A pair of first-half goals by Kai Koreniuk helped Reigon III to a 2-1 win against Region I. Koreniuk made a long solo run with the ball before scoring his first goal in the 5th minute. He followed that with his second goal in the 18th minute with an assist from Cameron Reaves. Ryan Mingachos brought Region I within a goal when he scored in the 27th minute, but that ended the scoring and Region III came away with the win.

1998 Boys: Region II v. Region IV

Region II struck twice in the opening half en route to a 2-0 win over Region IV in the teams’ opening game of the event. In the 2nd minute, Elvir Ibisevic took a pass from Marc Ybarra and scored to give Region II a quick lead. Daniel Wright added a second goal for Region II in the 30th minute to wrap up the scoring.